4 Ways To Be a Tourist In Your City

I won't deny the fact that I am one of those people whose bucket list is filled with so many places minus the one right under their nose. If you think about it, most places that we live in our experiencing tourism regularly.

Time and time again I have people reaching out to me asking for recommendations for Houston & honestly I find myself curious as to why out of all the places would they come here. While we are on this honesty streak, I have for the past year or so had a really hard time being in this city since my heart has longed to be somewhere such as Chicago, Seattle, Austin, & so on. I realized that I finally had enough of wishing I was living somewhere else & I have embraced that for the time being, I am in Houston, TX. The home of the world series Champs. haha. I don't watch sports but figured I'd add that subtle plug.

One thing I have challenged myself with is becoming a tourist in Houston. I want to get lost in Houston & stumble upon new restaurants, buildings, picture spots, parks, things to do, & more. My hope is to in the coming months share a Houston city guide for those looking to come visit but for now here are

4 Ways To Be a Tourist In Your City

1. Spend a day playing tourist: Research the top things to do & see in your city & experience them. Even if you need to go to a hotel lobby & ask for those cheese maps...do it. More often than not you have passed by certain statues, building, food spots, and have grown accustomed to them being a part of your city. Take some time to appreciate them and know them. Even whip out that camera & take a picture in front of it as if you were in a new place.

2. Book a Staycation: In the fall I was able to do a Staycation in Houston & it was one of my favorite things. I was able to stay in an area I normally do not visit & check out food/ bar areas that typically aren't on my radar. It was a refreshing moment that reminded me how fun Houston can be. Most cities are huge so book a stay in a different part and explore.

3. Explore the History: Depending on your city you may have a museum or a center that will showcase the history behind it. If not I have heard of most cities having hop on & hop off tour buses that will take you to historical & important spots in your city. I'll be honest I don't know a ton of the history of Houston & before writing this I looked up and we have a hop off hop on tour in Houston. Say what, sign me up!

4. Eat, Drink, & Wander: This is my favorite one & something I have begun to put into play. It's easy to get comfortable in a routine & have certain spots that we are regulars at. I'm not saying abandon those spots but one day out of the week goes to a new coffee shop, try a new restaurant in town, check out a new rooftop bar, You'll be surprised the new spots arriving in your town & who knows you might find your new coffee shop. One way I stay on top of things is that I follow local bloggers & Instagrammers in my city who are staying on top of those openings. When I see a place I must visit I save it & make a point to go.

Throughout this blog, I have showcased a new spot in Houston called Emmaline. This was one of the spots I saw from a local Instagrammer Jessica AKA @hydrangesandcoffee. The moment I saw Emmaline's I knew I would love it & the aesthetic didn't dissapoint. The food here is American dining with European refinement here is a link to their website.

I hope this blog post encourages you to get out & explore your hometown. So how do you plan on being a tourist in your city!